Elephants Never Forget : Magpie Tales 4

He put his hand in his pocket and felt the smooth hard little elephant and tears glistened in the corners of his eyes. He glanced quickly around the cafe to see if anyone had noticed his wet eyes,  hardly the act of a grown man.
It was stupid to cry but it had meant so much, ‘elephants never forget,’ she had said when she had given it to him that first wedding night, with a light kiss that promised more. She was quite upset when he remarked that it was an odd looking little fella and then, when her smile turned to tears, he felt mean that he had made fun of the look of it. It had meant a lot to her and she had promised that like elephants never forgot, she would never forget and love him forever and ever.

All those years ago, but she had forgotten that odd looking carved elephant and her promise and left him.

He left the warmth of the coffee shop and wrapped his scarf tight against the bitter wind.
Walking fast he arrived just behind the cars that drove slowly past the tall granite stones. He stood a little way off watching the sad little group till they had gone.

Then standing over the sweet smelling flowers, he bent down and with the white rose let the little elephant fall and whispered, ‘ I never forgot you.’

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